2 minute read
Family Tradition
When Perry Anderson was planning his future, he didn’t have to look far from home. Lakeland College runs in the family. Anderson got his first hands-on experience at Lakeland courtesy of the Career and Technology Studies (CTS) program. Then in Grade 10 at St. Jerome’s School, Anderson had the opportunity to spend a month at Lakeland experiencing the trades programing. “I chose to try electrical, mechanical and carpentry. I personally enjoyed the electrical portion of it most,” Anderson explains, before adding casually, “Having a father in the electrical trade for 20-plus years probably helped too.” His father James received his journeyperson certificate from Lakeland in 2004. Before that, his grandfather Arnold received his heavy duty and auto mechanic tickets in 1986 and 1987. Anderson's sister Elaina also attended Lakeland, taking two years of university transfer. She is now at the University of Saskatchewan working on her doctor of pharmacy degree. Their mother Carla has been employed at the college for most of Anderson’s life. Her recommendation of the electrical program went a long way towards convincing him to apply.
PERRY ANDERSON “It was
Fourth-year Electrician Apprentice also in my hometown,” Anderson says. “It was nice to be able to stay with my parents.” Though his trade and school choices were heavily influenced by his family, after his first year, Anderson decided that he liked the program and the instructors so much, he was happy to stay. “The instructors were the main reason I came back,” he says. “They were just awesome. The whole program is amazing. The help that’s available is really good. If I have any questions, I can go to any of the instructors and they are more than willing to take time out of their day to make sure their students are doing well in the program. Their sense of humour helps too.” Anderson recently completed his fourth period of apprenticeship studies, Anderson loves the trade and is intends to continue with electrical as well as move into instrumentation. “I’ve been asked multiple times by a lot of people wanting to know how I like the electrical trade and honestly, I recommend it to anybody who’s looking to get into something,” Anderson says. “Lakeland’s program has definitely prepared me for a career in electrical work.”
